Iran Hardliners Outraged Over U.S. Diplomatic Talks
Iranian hardliners condemn U.S. envoy meeting with foreign minister, calling it a mistake.
2 min read
Iranian hardliners have expressed outrage over the recent diplomatic meeting between U.S. Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, calling the engagement a mistake and demanding the removal of both officials from office. The meeting, described as an indirect communication through mediators from Qatar, lasted about three hours and marked the first U.S.-Iran diplomatic exchange since June.
Hardline Response and Criticism
Hardline Iranian social media users voiced strong opposition, with some calling for impeachment proceedings against Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian. One user claimed the meeting was “an even bigger mistake” than Pezeshkian’s trip to the U.S. for the UN General Assembly. Economist and former official Vahid Azizi warned that those who negotiate with the U.S. should stay there, stating, “Iran is a country for honorable people.”
Hardline commentator Mohsen Maqsudi criticized the negotiations as “sheer stupidity,” arguing that engaging with Washington under threat could lead to a drop in oil prices, which Tehran hopes will pressure Trump into ending the war. Parliamentarian Ebrahim Rezaei questioned the authority of Araghchi to meet with a U.S. representative, calling it an act of aggression.
State Media and Political Posturing
State-run news agencies dismissed the meeting as “absurd,” noting that Iran has already made its demands clear regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Fars news agency criticized Araghchi for potentially undermining the strategy of rising oil prices, which was seen as a tool to influence U.S. Congress. Pezeshkian, in his U.N. address, accused the U.S. and Israel of “terrorism” and “war crimes,” referencing the bombing of a girls’ school in February as a deliberate attack on civilians.
U.S. Officials’ Optimism
Despite the backlash, both Witkoff and Trump expressed satisfaction with the talks, with Trump calling the meeting “very good” and stating it could help “get this thing ended.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, was more cautious, expressing doubts about whether Araghchi and Pezeshkian could secure agreement with the hardline IRGC and politicians.
Rubio noted that the ultimate decision-making power in Iran lies with those who are strong believers in the Iranian revolution, making negotiations problematic. The U.S. officials’ optimism contrasts with the internal Iranian political tensions and the hardliners’ resistance to any perceived compromise.
Source: Breitbart
